The
Tintern News
Produced
by the Friends of Tintern – February 2007
TREASURES OLD
AND NEW
In
1536 Tintern Abbey was left abandoned, yet in time it
became known worldwide: what more could there be to add to the story?
But the
Abbey had a secret, which very few have known till now. Parts of a beautifully carved statue had
survived, disfigured and incomplete, but recognisably a Virgin and Child,
dating from about 1280.
In
2005 Philip Chatfield, a sculptor with strong local links and a special
interest in that particular period, went to see the surviving pieces and
suggested making a new statue on the pattern of the old one. It would not be easy to get inside the mind
of the original sculptor, nor to do the actual work, as he uses only hand
tools, but he felt strongly drawn to the task.
The small group formed to take things further were delighted when Cadw formally agreed to the proposal.
In
medieval times the Abbey, dedicated to God and St Mary of Tintern,
was buzzing with life and visited by many pilgrims as well as the local
population. In recent years people have
come from far and near, to see the ruins, to attend religious services such as
the Christmas torchlight procession and the annual ecumenical service of Sung
Vespers, to watch spectacular dramas such as that produced in 2000 on the
history of Tintern.
Once the new statue is dedicated we may find an exciting new chapter
beginning for the Abbey and the people of Tintern who
live with these treasures in their midst – who knows!
Philip
Chatfield will be at the Abbey again in February/March. Do take the opportunity to see him at
work. It is hoped that the service of
dedication will take place in May. We
will keep you all updated.
If you would like to contribute to the
funding of this project, receive updates/information, or become a Friend,
contact Friends of Our Lady of Tintern,
Email:
info@ourladyoftintern.co.uk,
website: www.ourladyoftintern.co.uk
Minute
Books, Correspondence Books and Receipt and Payment Books of Tintern Parish & Community Council.
The Community Council has moved its older documents
to the Gwent Record Office at County Hall in Cwmbran. This has been done to
preserve the chronicled history of the Council which tells the story of
community life in the area from the end of the 19th century until
the beginning of the 1990’s.
In the archives the documents are protected against
damage by fire, dampness and theft.
They are freely available to view by the public on
any week day under reference
D4584
|
REF: |
DESCRIPTION
OF RECORDS |
DATES |
QUANTITY |
|
|
|
|
FROM |
TO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D4584.1 |
Minute Book |
1894 |
1917 |
1 vol. |
|
D4584.2 |
Minute Book |
1917 |
1924 |
1 vol. |
|
D4584.3 |
Minute Book |
1924 |
1930 |
1 vol. |
|
D4584.4 |
Minute Book |
1930 |
1935 |
1 vol. |
|
D4584.5 |
Minute Book |
1940 |
1957 |
1 vol. |
|
D4584.6 |
Minute Book |
1957 |
1971 |
1 vol. |
|
D4584.7 |
Minute Book |
1971 |
1980 |
1 vol. |
|
D4584.8 |
Minute Book |
1980 |
1990 |
1 vol. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D4584. 9 |
Correspondence Book |
1940 |
1944 |
1 vol. |
|
D4584.10 |
Correspondence Book |
1958 |
1961 |
1 vol. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D4584.11 |
Receipt and Payments Book |
1935 |
1955 |
1 vol. |
|
D4584.12 |
Receipt and Payments Book |
1955 |
1962 |
1 vol. |
|
D4584.13 |
Receipt and Payments Book |
1971 |
1991 |
1 vol. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monmouthshire County Council
Grass Routes - A new transport idea!
“How the scheme operates”
This is a completely new bus scheme for
the villages around
Chepstow
It does not have a fixed
timetable; it does not have fixed bus stops
YOU DECIDE when you want to
travel, where you want to go to and from
You just join the scheme, pay your ₤5 annual fee and
CALL
0800 085 8015
FOR A BUS!!
Remember: Concessionaries travel FREE
How do I join and use the bus?
A.
To join simply go to the One-Stop-Shop in the Library
entrance and pick up an application form. Fill it in and together with a cheque
or postal order for ₤5.00 (not cash) take it back to the shop and it will
be sent to the operators of the scheme. If you have not got a concessionary
pass journeys cost ₤2.00 for adults and ₤1.00 for children. This
will pay for either a one way or return
trip
B.
Once you have your membership card go ahead and use the
service.
C.
It is available Monday to Friday during the day and will
take you anywhere in the area. For
example, you could go from Fordwich Close to the
Garden Centre at Pwllmeyric and pick up your friends
on the way.
D. Bookings must be made
24 hours in advance of your proposed journey by ringing the following free phone
number, 0800 085 8015. If there is no reply from this number you may leave a
message.
E.
When booking you must
give your name and address, contact telephone number and membership number and
state clearly the pick up point you require and destination and the times you
wish to travel.
F.
No monies will be
collected on the bus; you will be invoiced
directly every month for the number of journeys you have undertaken.
G.
Invoices may be paid by
cheque or postal order by posting to the address on the invoice or at the
One-Stop-Shop. If you have an All
H.
If invoices are not
paid within 30 days of receipt then you will be suspended from traveling until all outstanding monies have been paid.
If you would like this
information in another language, Braille, large print, tape or a range of electronic formats please
contact Community Transport Co-coordinator on 01633 644777.
The first tier not
the bottom tier
There is a lot of concern in the
community over the state of the
A financial statement for the
month was presented which stated that the council had funds of ₤6,
535.79. The Council has also prepared its budget for the next financial year
and has decided to increase the funds requested from Monmouthshire County
Council (M.C.C.) to ₤12,500. This is a considerable increase from last
year and unfortunately will have to be paid for by the community charge
payers of Tintern. However, this will give the
Council significant funds to be able to demand M.C.C. do something conspicuous
about road safety and parking in the village.
There were two planning
application. DC/2006/01108, New dwelling, land adjoining 1 Glyn View. The Council
recommended that this application be refused on the grounds that the land is
unsuitable for another dwelling. DC/2006/01181: Construction of storage barn,
land adjacent ‘The Laurels’. Because this is an agricultural building no
specific recommendation is required of the Council. Two applications that had
been considered by M.C.C. where refused permission during the month. These
were, DC/2006/00635: New dwelling and garage, Primrose Cottage and
DC/2006/00876: Revised roof design to amend scheme approved with planning ref
M/3855. More detail of the planning discussions can be found in the full
Council Minutes.
Survey 2006: The Youth Project
Chairman reported that plans for the youth centre had been completed in consultation
with community children. Three sites were being looked at;
i.
ii. Extension to Village Hall
iii. Sawmills Waste Ground
The Grass Routes bus scheme had
started on 13th November but had so far had no
passengers from Tintern. Approaches had been made to
the rail companies to discuss timetable changes but these had so far met with no response. An
AONB study for a park & ride scheme to Tintern
from Chepstow Racecourse car park was still ongoing.
A quotation to erect the new
village notice board in the car park of the Rose & Crown had been received
and accepted. It is hoped that this will be available for use by the whole
Community early in the New Year.
Councillor Dawn Floyd
News from Parva Farm
As I did
not manage to write for the December News, I shall have to look back a bit this
time. I would like to thank everyone who
visited the ‘Nativity Scene with Live Animals’, which we held at the Vineyard
during December. This raised £93.00 for Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Horses
and Ponies Protection Society at Brockweir. The
Nativity starred Ned and Sally (the donkeys from Abbey Passage Farm), Faith and
Hope (the cow and calf) and George, Daisy and Kiri
(the sheep). Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus were manikins!
We had a surprise on Christmas Eve. One of our ewes had a lamb. We were not expecting any lambs until the middle of March! We named him Joseph and put him in the Nativity Scene for the last few hours. You may have seen his picture in the Argus. We had three more lambs born at the beginning of this month (January). They are living in the vineyard at the moment as there is plenty of grass out there and they are all happy and healthy and leaping around as lambs do.
This is the time of the year for pruning the vines. We have about 4500 to do altogether and it has been a case of dodging the showers, of which we have had quite a lot this month. Most of the vines appear to be in good condition after the enormous crop they produced last year (11 tonnes). We are hoping that this mild weather will not encourage them to start growing too early as that could cause problems if we had a sudden cold spell.
Events we hope to hold at the Vineyard this
year are: “Come and see the lambs” which will start on 14th April,
‘Welsh Wine Week” which starts on 26th May. Our plant exhibition
will be during June and the 6th Annual Art Exhibition in July. This
is our tenth year at the Vineyard and we are hoping to put together an
exhibition about vine growing in
Now all we need is another beautiful summer like we had last year!
Judith Dudley.
TINTERN VPA
The
new year started with
our Annual General Meeting on Friday 19th
January in the Village Hall. Details of
the programme for the year
were finalised and a review of the financial position concluded
that subscriptions would remain unchanged at £4 – 00 per person for the coming year. Members wishing to renew their subscriptions
and non-members wishing to join should come along to a meeting or contact the Treasurer Bernard Bradshaw at 10 Parva Springs
Tintern (Tel.
01291 689877 ).
The
next meeting will be on Friday 16th February at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall when Mr Roy Haviland will be giving us a talk on
Chrysanthemums.
TINTERN WI
A few games of bowls at the January
meeting helped to warm us up and give us some exercise. It used up a few calories before the Slimming
Club weigh in. Then after tea and biscuits to put the calories back on we
planned our programme for the year.
At
the February meeting we will be having a crafts afternoon when members will be
bringing cross stitch, knitting, crochet, sewing and any other crafts to the
meeting. Members can then learn about
other crafts as well as doing their own work.
We hope also in February to have a trip to
If
you are interested in joining us do come along to the next meeting on Monday 19th
February at 2.00pm in Tintern Village Hall. We will make you very welcome but not
necessarily slimmer!
FEBRUARY SOUP LUNCH
Homemade Soup and Pudding
£3 plus a raffle
Wednesday 7th February
12.30 - 2pm
Tintern Village Hall
Tintern Community Council have invited the Welsh
Environment Agency to give a presentation on their work on flood awareness on
the banks of the Wye
The Agency have done considerable work on defining
areas liable to flooding and producing new means, including Email, of warning
householders of the immanency of flooding to their homes
The meeting is in Tintern
Village Hall on Monday 12th February at 7:30 p.m.
This is a very relevant topic considering the
recent rain, our geography and the advent of the spring tides!
Dare you miss it if you live on the banks of the
Wye?
PLEASE NOTE THE
MEETING ONLY COVERS THE WYE AND NONE OF ITS TRIBUTARIES OR OTHER REASONS FOR
FLOODING
20/02/2007
- 9.45am – estimated height 8.00m
21/02/2007
– 10.25am – estimated height 7.9m
Thank you Tintern Community Council and Monmouthshire County Council for the resurfacing of the A466 and the traffic calming measure at the entrance to the Village near the church. It’s much appreciated.
THANK YOU
FAREWELL AND GOOD LUCK
To Bridget and Anthony
Ionadies of Ginger Blue. The Village will miss your
lovely coffee and diet-busting pastries, and wishes you bon-yoyage
and good luck to you all in your new life in
To
loving home – piano needing tuning, care and attention.
£25.00 - ono
Ring T. Evans
for more information 01291 689587
Buyer collects
Accommodation required for three months, February to April/May,
for Philip Chatfield, the sculptor working at the Abbey. It needs to be
furnished and preferably close by; reasonably spacious independent living, with
parking space if possible.
If you can
help, please contact:
Friends of Our
Lady of Tintern,
or
email: info@ourladyoftintern.co.uk
12th February Trudy
and Nine Phelps
26th February Ann
and Barry Richardson
12th March Elspeth
and Karen
26th March Janet,
Sue and Barbara
9th April WI
23rd April Hermoine Ford
7th May Jude
Spooner
United we
stand divided we fall. It seems that most of us around here
don’t talk to one or more of our fellow Tinternians!
I know of several disputes between neighbours that are on
going and waste vast amounts of time, energy and in some cases money on legal
nonsense.
Why is it that we are unable to shake hands and move on? Do
people derive pleasure from the wind up? I doubt it; I think it has become a
way of life.
You may be surprised to find out I am no exception, after a
mistake on behalf of my architect one of my neighbours has been reminding me
ever since by calling authorities, whenever I step out of line. Another
neighbour stopped talking to me when I built the Café, I really liked this
person and another doesn’t talk to me because I was rude when parking on yellow
lines. I am sorry to all and really want to shake hands and move on.
Basically because in the scheme of things, I believe we all
miss out when we don’t get on.
How can Tintern be represented to
the powers that be when we can’t communicate satisfactory amongst ourselves?
Think about moving on and saying good morning or afternoon when you see a
neighbour.
Why ruin the planet driving to another village to shop when the local
shop is on your doorstep.
Can our councillors really support spurious claims when they are meant
to be impartial to our planning submissions?
If you have a problem with a neighbour, why not talk to them
and sort it out and stop wasting the authorities time,
at a time when they have little funds to deliver service.
Caring about
each other actually brings pride to our community and together we can make
anything happen. Where
there’s a will there’s a way!
Andi Francis
Dawn Floyd and the Family of the late Dave Bruce
would like to
thank Chris and Shelley Rastell for all their help in
sorting out Dave’s affairs and for contacting and liaising with The Royal Gwent
Hospital so that Dave’s funeral could take place. It was an amazing amount of
kindness that you both showed and we all thank you very much.
Thank you also to The Royal Gwent Hospital for the fantastic care and support you gave to Dave during his final days. The NHS doing its job and doing it superbly.
Joan Dexter 1918 - 2007
We lost Joan on the 4th January 2007. She died very peacefully at home after having
telephoned or spoken to her family and friends.
Joan spent her early life in Chingford,
Essex with her twin sister, Margaret.
She started to train as a dispensing chemist and actuary travelling up
to
After the war,
she and Kenneth moved to Lytchett Matravers
in
She moved to Tintern some thirty
years ago. She was happy here, taking up
painting and becoming involved with the church and the VPA. She gained yet another circle of valued
friends.
Joan did not want us to mourn and so her friends in the
village have celebrated her life with champagne, perhaps with the odd
tear.
A Memorial Service was held at St Michael's Church on the
17th January. The Rector, Phil Rees, led
a very full congregation in an up-lifting service much appreciated by Joan's
family and friends.
JMB
From Joan Dexter's children
Dear Tintern
We
would like to thank the village for all its support, love and happiness it gave
mother during her 30 years of living amongst you – the evidence has surely been
shown by the large number of you who came to her funeral and the many words, letters
and cards we have received from you. They have helped us at our time of need
and shown us how kind people are.
Over the 30 years, mother saw us and our families grow up
and saw her first great-grand child. She also welcomed many friends and other relatives
to her house and introduced many of us and them to you and her village. She
loved Tintern and in return we thank you for loving
her.
Alex, Andrew and Stephen
Wednesday 7th February at 7.30pm – Bingo at the Anchor
Wednesday 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th February – Youth Club – Village Hall 6.30 – 8.00pm
Friday
16th February
at 7.30 pm VPA in the
Village Hall
Monday 19th February at 2.00pm WI in Tintern Village Hall
Tuesday 20th February at 10.30am – Pancake Race at the Anchor
CATBROOK MEMORIAL HALL EVENTS 2006
Friday 9th February - Frank Hennessy and Friends - 7.30 p.m.
Friday 23rd February at 7.30 p.m. - Film The Queen.
Friday 9th March - Ceilidh to
Rig-a-jig.
Friday 23rd March at 7.30 p.m. - Film The History Boys.
Saturday 14th April - provisional booking for The Ronaldos. Further details to
follow.
7th/8th July 2007 - Art for
Coffee Mornings held on the third Tuesday of each month at 10.30 a.m.
This term's yoga classes have finished. New classes
recommencing after Christmas. Contact Ruth Routh
for details, 01600-860648.
For details on all other events or to hire the hall contact Rosemary Stephens
on 01600-860451.
Items for the Newsletter – dates for the March 2007 edition
Items for the Tintern Newsletter from
home or abroad can be sent by email to andrew.elspeth@virgin.net
delivered to Wye Barn, Tintern, or tel 01291 689456.
Items for the February edition
of the Newsletter should be received by 24th February 2007
The Tintern Newsletter is sponsored by the Lower Wye Area Committee.
The Tintern News is a vehicle for the expression of opinion by
all members of the Tintern community. While it does
not necessarily endorse the views of any particular contributors, it does
wholeheartedly support the promotion of lively debate on the development of the
village and of freedom of speech in general. However, it will reserve the right
to edit any contributions in order to preserve moderation and a spirit of good
intent in the presentation of arguments. Thoughts from everyone in our
community will continue to be very welcome. ER